For the first time our family is going to wake up on Christmas morning not at home in Kansas, but away in sunny California. We like to travel during Christmas break, but our tradition has been to leave town on Christmas Day. It’s fun to open gifts, eat homemade cinnamon rolls and then hit the road for an adventure.

But this year we wanted to maximize our time soaking up some vitamin D which forced me to be flexible with my notions of tradition. When I initially bristled at the idea of change, I had to ask myself what was really important – location or proximity? Did the place have more significance than the people I was sharing the same room with? In the blink of an eye our girls will be off creating their adult lives and I will have less influence on where they spend their holidays (please may I still have some). I may as well practice holding plans and traditions loosely, adapting to what arises. These little girls have already grown into young women I’m so proud of; I don’t want to miss the adventure of new traditions to come.

Gifts I’ve been appreciating: the freedom to travel, time with my loved ones, the fragrance of the candle burning as I write this, a cup of coffee in my favorite mug, the inspiration of future creative work, and you, the readers who I share life with.

Happy Holidays and lots of love, Molly